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CommRadio adds an app and an 'm'

February 13, 2017

CommRadio adds an app and an 'm'

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The internet-based radio station housed in the College of Communications at Penn State has launched an app and added an "m" — becoming CommRadio and becoming even more easily accessible for listeners all over the world.

First launched in 2003, CommRadio has grown from a staff of 13 students to more than 150. Those students work on teams focused on news, sports, production, sales, social media and management. The station produces a variety of public-affairs and talk shows, broadcasts a nightly newscast and provides coverage of Penn State sports, as well as some State College Area High School athletic events.

With the launch of the CommRadio app, the streaming station can be just one touch away for those who download it to their mobile devices.

CommRadio enables students interested in broadcasting and radio to get involved as soon as they arrive on campus as freshmen. That access to airtime and repetition enables students to hone skills that lead to careers.

"The early access the students have at CommRadio is one of the things that sets us apart from other universities," said Jeff Brown, CommRadio general manager. "Instead of gaining access to the air as juniors, our freshmen start as soon as they are properly trained. This gives them two additional years to make their mistakes, correct them and polish their on-air presentation."

Over the years, CommRadio students have won numerous state and national awards for their work while alumni have moved into roles with broadcast outlets, large and small, across the nation. Students who have combined their classroom experience with CommRadio have started careers at places like the Big Ten Network, CBS Sports, ESPN and the SEC Network.

Students can get numerous opportunities, too. Along with news and talk programming, CommRadio has built a strong relationship with Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. That has let to covering most Penn State varsity sports and traveling with some teams to cover competitions at other universities. During the 2015-16 academic year, CommRadio produced more than 930 hours of live Penn State varsity sports coverage.

In addition, CommRadio was the first student media entity in the nation to cover the NFL Draft in its entirety from start to finish in 2009. This year, students plan to extend their coverage streak of the draft to nine years when they travel April 27-29 for the event in Philadelphia.

CommRadio added a second "m" to complement branding for the overall College of Communications, which utilizes two m's for its student-focused opportunities such as CommAgency, CommMedia and CommRadio.

The CommRadio app is available for both Android and iOS devices through the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.